Interview with Munroe Bergdorf

I’m a DJ and Trans* Advocate based in London, where I’ve lived for seven years. Oh and I’m a Virgo…

What can you tell me about the rise in Powerful transgendered people within the media?

It’s about time!!! It feels amazing to be living in a time where trans* women and men are being celebrated in the media. Thinking back to when I was a kid, there were hardly any trans* folk in the media, definitely nobody that I could relate to… If there had been a Laverne Cox, Janet Mock or Paris Lees representing the sisterhood when I was 11 or 12, it would have definitely have helped me understand who I was earlier and maybe have taken away some of the sleepless nights thinking that there was something wrong with me…

Do you hope that eventually being trans will be normalised and there will be no more questions?

Of course! I think we’re finally heading in that direction although we’ve got a LONG way to go… In the UK, trans rights and the laws that protect us are better than ever, but the way that trans people are treated day to day still needs a lot of work. It’s not so much that I mind being asked questions full stop… It’s more the kind of questions that I’m asked, a lot of them are invasive, personal and unnecessary. People may say “if you don’t ask, you’ll never know”, but the point is that you don’t NEED to ask, because you don’t NEED to know… It’s great to be clued up about trans* people, but asking somebody you don’t know intrusive questions isn’t the way to go about it.

Can you tell me how Fashion has influenced you?

Fashion has always been a big source of inspiration for me. I’ve always loved fashion that you can escape into, I love that element of fantasy mixed with reality, as a kid it helped me to dream and open myself up to always believing that I can be anything and create anything I put my mind to.

What’s your biggest achievement so far?

My greatest professional achievements I’d say being asked to create my own lipgloss with Illamasqua and being shot naked by the legendary photographer David Bailey. My biggest personal achievement, making the decision to live life every day being true to myself.

Is there anything in the pipeline for you that you can discuss with me?

Haha, you’ll have to wait and see… I’d rather people see what I’m doing for themselves as it happens rather than I try to explain what I’m going to do. It’s always best letting the work speak for itself.

If you could give one piece of advice for something trying to identify themselves, what would it be?

Never underestimate your worth… Your gender does not define who you are, it’s just one facet of what makes you who you are. Remember that you deserve the world, so go out and get it!!!